In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives.
Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year.
Below is a letter from Lindsay Jones, a senior soccer player from the University of Charleston.
Dear Soccer,
First of all, thank you. Thank you for teaching me about myself in ways that I could have never thought possible. Who would have thought that a sport could teach life lessons that no one person could teach? You’ve challenged me, pushed me, broke me down, but most importantly – you’ve built me. And for that, I am forever grateful.
When I think of my strongest attributes, I think of determination, leadership, and fearlessness. What do all of these have in common? They came from you. Ever since I was a young girl, I loved the challenge that you presented. I always wanted to be the hardest working athlete on the field. This drive and determination later translated to almost every part of my life, including academics.
As young athletes, we all have idols. I can still remember my favorite players to watch growing up. What I loved most about these athletes was their leadership. It was obvious that their teammates felt comfortable following their lead. These leaders are crucial to every team, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to have this type of influence on the players around me. This was not an easy task. You taught me that being a good leader does not mean that I can simply speak my way into the role. I have to lead by example, on and off the field. In turn, this effected my choices in everyday life and these good behaviors became habit. Becoming a leader also meant that I had to be confident in every choice I made. I could not be afraid to stand in front of my team and express my thoughts on the game. This, too, translated to other aspects in life. You taught me to be fearless in my decisions and to always trust myself.
Not only did you give me the best parts of myself, but you also gave me the people who were most instrumental in molding me. From friends to coaches, I would not be the same person without those that I met because of you. I met my very first friends because of you, and now those friends are considered family. My teammates have given me memories that will last a lifetime, and I am still making those memories today, 17 years later. My coaches have given me knowledge about the game, as well as life advice that I carry with me today. They not only cared for me as a player, but as a person. You gave me coaches that I knew I could count on no matter what.
Today, as I transition out of school and into the “real world," I will no longer have you physically in my life. This terrifies me because I have never known a life without you. However, you have given me the tools that you knew I needed to become the best version of myself. Just like a soccer game, life requires determination, leadership, and fearlessness. It also requires having the right people around you to be successful. So regardless of the score, I will always have something to take away from the game. Again, Soccer, thank you.
Lindsay Jones
University of Charleston